Under Cover: Artists' Takes on Pixies' 'Doolittle'

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"DOOLITTLE" MIGHT BE the most poppy album about rape, mutilation, murder and nuclear bombs ever made. It's also a landmark work in alternative rock — an album that helped spawn grunge, '90s alt-rock and, some argue, the modern indie-rock movement.

Thus, it seems appropriate for Pixies to jump on the classic albums bandwagon and tour playing the album in full, along with its respective b-sides, for "Doolittle's" 20th Anniversary. The tour, which launched in Europe in September, has earned rave reviews and comes to a close in Washington with a two-night stand at Constitution Hall on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.

Since the band is celebrating "Doolittle," we thought it best to look back on the album's influence over the past two decades by looking at five of the best takes on "Doolittle" songs from other artists (and available in embeddable form). Some tracks come from Pixies tributes, others from live renditions and some even from proper releases.

Rogue Wave — "Debaser"
Former SubPop and current Brushfire Records band Rogue Wave take the screeching "Doolittle" opener and mellow it out into a comfortable groove. Maybe it's the band's California roots, but "Debaser" looses its edge under Rogue Wave's lush production. Let's face it: singer Zach Rouge calmly crooning the song's opening lines ("Got me a movie/I want you to know/ Slicing up eyeballs/ I want you to know") just can't match Black Francis' unrivaled screams. The band liked the song so much it covered "Debaser" twice — this one for the sixth volume of the "The O.C." soundtracks. The other is a slower, folksy version (complete with acoustic and slide guitars) caught live in the studio. It's the better of the two, mostly because it takes "Debaser" into uncharted territory.

Local H — "Tame"
One hit wonders Local H (1996's "Bound for the Floor," you know it, even if you think you don't) recorded "Tame" for Pixies tribute album, "Where Is My Mind?: A Tribute to the Pixies" and still feature it in the live rotation. As evident from the video above, it's a pretty standard take on one of the album's most outright aggressive songs from a band clearly influenced by Pixies. Unlike Rogue, singer Scott Lucas has his Francis yell down pat — just check the chorus. Most impressive is how Lucas and drummer Brian St. Clair strip the song to its elements with the simple drum-and-guitar approach yet don't lose any of its intensity.

Meghan Smith — "Here Comes Your Man"
Joseph Gordon-Levitt — "Here Comes Your Man"
Besides making us fall in and out of love with Zooey Deschanel, "(500) Days of Summer" also gave us two takes on the biggest pop success on "Doolittle," "Here Comes Your Man." The first is Meaghan Smith's breezy and bouncy Omnichord-driven performance, which appears on the film's soundtrack. She delightfully deconstructs the song to its elements with sparse backing vocals, and the droning Omnichord. As a bonus, we're including Joseph Gordon-Levitt's karaoke of the song from the film, which comes on the crucial night his character, Tom, and Deschanel's Summer first hang out. It's pure, drunken fun, and appears on the soundtrack as a bonus track.

Far — "Monkey Gone to Heaven"
On another one from "Where is My Mind?" recently reunited ambient rock band Far fuse hypnotic guitars and distorted vocals in a fitting cover. The emphasis here is on melody, rather than "Monkey Gone to Heaven's" famous refrain. Think Pixies gone ambient.

TV on the Radio — "Mr. Grieves"
How TV on the Radio managed to transform "Mr. Grieves" into an a capella, barbershop-style arrangement is beside the point. The closing track off the band's first EP, "Young Liars," was an early indicator that this was a band with staying power. A subtle bass line, snapping fingers and several voices fading in and out make this the best cover here. The reason? It takes the song in a place none of the Pixies could ever have imagined.

» DAR Constitution Hall, 1776 D St. NW, with Jay Reatard, Mon. Nov. 30, 7 p.m., sold out, and with Mew. Tue., Dec. 1, 7 p.m., $55; 202-638-2661. (Farragut West)

Photo courtesy Chris Glass